Rude nurse?

[obloom14]

The other day I took my father to the ER because he was having severe symptoms that made me believe it was the flu. Mistakenly I thought my dad said he had chest pain as well so I wrote that down during his admission. After waiting 2 and a half hours to see the doctor the nurse came in to do an assessment. She asked if he had chest pain and he denied. She walked out to the nurses station to speak with another nurse. I'm assuming she was the charge nurse. My fathers room was RIGHT in front of the nurses station with the door wide open where we can hear EVERYTHING. I myself plan on becoming an ER nurse soon and just thought both nurses were being really disrespectful. They were laughing when they said there was no chest pain. It's pathetic to see and hear that happen...are they not aware that we can hear everything they're saying? I felt like walking up to them and say "excuse me but be aware of what you are saying, we can hear you guys discussing this LOUDLY." I know a lot of nurses tend to do that once in a while but still...do it somewhere where the patient can't hear you. It looks bad on you guys.

[SionainnRN]

Did you ever think that they were laughing with relief that a CP hadn't been sitting in the waiting room for 2.5 hours? And how do you mix up flu and chest pain? And your biggest complaint is...they laughed? They said nothing disrespectful, weren't rude to you or the pt, but that they were laughing at the nurses station...really? You have a lot to learn about how things work in a hospital.

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

I think you have every right to be irritated. Nurses are human, but we should keep it professional.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

You have much to learn.

Hope your dad is feeling better.

[Susie2310]

I'm sorry you experienced this. I would have been upset too. I would focus your energy on going forward: Become a nurse who is competent, caring, and respectful towards patients and families.

[Susie2310]

Did you ever think that they were laughing with relief that a CP hadn't been sitting in the waiting room for 2.5 hours? And how do you mix up flu and chest pain? And your biggest complaint is...they laughed? They said nothing disrespectful, weren't rude to you or the pt, but that they were laughing at the nurses station...really? You have a lot to learn about how things work in a hospital. .

You just posted on this forum in regard to a mistake you made with hanging antibiotics before drawing blood cultures. Didn't you want people to respond to you considerately? Would you have liked it if people jumped all over you and told you their negative thoughts about your mistake? The OP's father was ill and she had a negative experience with her father's nurse in the emergency room. This was her experience, and just because you weren't there doesn't mean the situation wasn't exactly as she described it. I've noticed you are quick to form an opinion of other people and quick to deliver lectures. I suggest you try listening and putting yourself in the place of patients and family members. A little humility goes a long way.

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

And how do you mix up flu and chest pain? And if this is enough for you to get your panties in a twist, you're gonna have a really rough time as an ER RN.

Bacterial pneumonia is a common complication of the flu, particularly in the elderly. Chest pain is a common symptom. "Panties in a twist"? Keep it classy.

[ksgirl2012]

No, you have every right to be upset, I'm sorry you had to hear that.....these discussions usually take place in the break room (or at the Pyxis) away from patient/family ears....one thing you will learn about ER nurses is that they will,,and do,talk about patients with each other. The ER can be a pressure cooker at times and its just a way to de-stress. Nurses in general like to commiserate with each other.... Bad judgement on the nurses part to do it in earshot of y'all!

[SionainnRN]

Bacterial pneumonia is a common complication of the flu, particularly in the elderly. Chest pain is a common symptom. "Panties in a twist"? Keep it classy.

I was responding to the fact he told her he was having flu sx and she wrote chest pain. Once again nothing was done TO THEM, " They were laughing when they said there was no chest pain." Like I said, it was probably a laugh of relief that they hadn't missed a CP sitting in the waiting room for 2.5 hours. But considering this is all the OP has to be offended about, it's pretty minute in my book. And once again, this is a thread for nurses, not for patients or their families to complain about their care.

[GonnaAmazeYou, ASN, RN]

A lot of time people claim chest pain because they think it will get them in faster, it doesn't of course, it only causes unjustified tests... Perhaps OP the nurses were laughing because they see that so often. I'm sure they weren't laughing at you, your father or his condition, but perhaps they were laughing because it was another " chest pain " with no chest pain.

[cannolis]

I come here to read/learn about peoples experiences, and it's like there's always that one person throwing in their bitter opinion like it even matters.

[360jRN]

I apologize if that was our ER. Its an open floor concept and sound really carries down each hall. I could easily see the "there's no chest pain" laugh of relief taking place; chest pain is like a magic word that opens up a series of doors that cannot be closed once opened - Iv's, xrays, EKG, monitoring, O2, labs (including a d-dimer, which will probably be slightly positive which would lead to a Ct-chest r/o PE) So please don't take it personally. Hope ya'll are feeling better! After sitting in the waiting room for 2.5 hours I'm sure I'd be pretty irritable too! Like someone else did mention, nurses destress of cope in weird ways. I've laughed in many a code... Not because I wasn't interested or invested what I was doing, its just how I handle the stress.